Blade-sharpener.



R. E. KIMBALL.

BLADE SHARPENER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-10.1913.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

Wineufied. (5%? M nos-em: E. KIMBALL, or CLEVELAND, onro.

BLADE-SI-IARPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 10, 1913. Serial No. 800,023.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, ROBERT E. KIMBALL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of @hio, have invented a certain new and useful. Improvement in Blade-Sharpeners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to blade sharpeners and particularly to a device for sharpening knife blades.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive sharpener in the form of a household article, by means ofwhich a knife or other blade may be quickly and effectively sharpened to asline an edge as desired, and with a bevel which is uniform on both sides of the blade, and from, one end of the blade to the other.

The sharpener which I have provided is of such a nature that it may beused in any household and in its operation doespnot require any special or particular skill, such as required with a hand operated steel, although the blade is sharpened in much the same manner as with a hand operated steel when held properly.

This device includes a suitable blade holder and a movable holder for the sharpening means, preferably two sharpening steels which are so mounted and actuated as to alternatesly move over and grind or cut opposite sides of the blade, thesteels each-engaging the blade near one end and leaving the same at the other end, and each steel while engaging the blade passingthrough a plane which intersects the plane of the knife at a certain angle, which is uniform at all points so as to produce a uniform bevel.

My invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain. novel combinations and arrangements'of parts which will be' described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

Although my invention may, be modified considerably in numerous respects, 1 have shown the preferred construction in the drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a side view of the sharpener attached to the edge-of a table or other suitable support, and showing aknife with its blade in position to be sharpened. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of'the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view partly in section, and

partly in elevation, the section being taken substantially through the driving spindle. Fig. 4L is a sectional view the line lft of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view substantially along the line fi -5 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a view of the sharpener as viewed from a point looking toward the blade in the plane thereof,the blade and tlon.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the sharpener includes-a bracket member 10 which can be secured by a clamp part of the blade clamp being shown in sec- 11 to the edge of a table or other suitable support 12. Near one end of the bracket is a plate 18. to which is adjustably secured a clamp 14 for a blade 15 to be sharpened. The clamp consists of two members it and l l which are connected by pivotal pins 16 and stand at an angle with reference to the axis of revolution of the steels, so that the blade held between the lower edge portions of the clamping members will be supported in operative position somewhat as shown in the drawings. That is, the blade will be in a vertical plane with its edge downward, and will be at an angle of nearly 45 with respect tothe horizontal support 12 to which the sharpener is secured. The clamp is ad- ]Patented Au 311, i915.

substantially along justably secured tothe plate 13 by means i of a fixed pivotal pin or screw 17 and an ad justable holding screw 18 which extends through a slot in the end of one of the clamping members.

Near the opposite end of the bracket isa clamping boss 19, which is secured to a fixed sleeve 20 provided with a bushing 20 111 crank or handle, for rotating the shaft 21 and the shaft extension 22, about the aXis ofzthe shaft; The shaft extension or extension member 22 is offset laterally from the shaft axis, and this offset portion has a fiat face to which is plvotally secured by a central pivotal pinor screw 23, a block 24 conaxis at an angle to the axis of rotation of stituting a holder for the sharpening members, the said holderhavmg its longitudinal shaft 21, The pivotal axis of the holder 24.

I lilounted in the holder 24 and extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom and at right anglesto the longitudinal axis of the holder are two parallel spmdles 25 which are mounted in the end portions of the holder and are equally spaced from the central pivotal axis of the latter. These spindles are adapted'to be rotatedabout their axes and each'is held from endwise vmovement in the holder by a collar secured to the spindle on one side of the I holder and by a washer 25 at the inner end of the spindle held-in place by a removable screw 25 extending" into the end of the spindle, 25

sharpening steels 26 which are removable and in this instance, are provided at thelr The spindles carry Y at their outer ends ends with threaded studs 26* which are screwed into threaded sockets in the ends of thespindles. As will appear presently,

when the steels are revolved about the axis r of the main shaft, they alternately engage and slide over the opposite side edges of the blade so as to sharpen the same. As the steels are. revolved by turning the crank, they are also slowly rotated about their own axes'by the following means. It will be observed that extending lengthwise through the block or holder 24% at one side of the center of the latter and contiguous to the inner ends of the steel holding spindles 25 is a threaded pin or screw 27 which extends through the holder and through a boss 28 at the inner end of the holder, and has at its inner end a head 27 in the form of a Wheel or disk which rolls, and thus turns on an annular radial flange. or shoulder 29 on the adjacent end of the bearing sleeve 20 movement of the screw 27 istransmitted-to through which the shaft extends. When the head'27 rolls and turns on the flange 29, 1t, of course, rotates the screw 27. The rotary the steel carrying spindles 25 by providing on each of the spindles and on that part of the spindle which extends into the holder 2&1,te eth 30 which engage and cooperate with the threads of the screw, so that the two constitute, in effect, a form of worm gearing. V I

The annular head 27? of the screw 27 is pressed yieldingly against the flange 2? by acoil spring 31 which surrounds an'adlustable pin 32 extending-through a lug on the boss 28, and through the holder 24,the pin 32 having at one end a head and at the opposite end a nut, the position of which can be adjusted by turning the head so as to vary the normal tension of the spring 31.

W hen the steels are revolved about the axis of the shaft 21 by turning the crank 23 and with no blade in the clamp l l, the head 27 on the end of the screw 27 rolls around the flange 29 on the end of the bearing sleeve, and the block or holder 2a is thus maintained in fixed position with reference to the holder, and the steels describe two conical surfaces, the outer extremities of which intersect each other. It will be apparent that as long as the head 27 engages the flange 29, while the crank is being turned and the steels revolve, the steels will be turned slowly about their axes.

Assuming now, that a knife is placed in the clamp and is 'held as shown in Fig. 1, when the steels are revolved by turning the crank, one of the steels will slide and move along one edge of the blade, and the other steel will slide or move along the opposite edge of the blade, and, in so doing, will sharpen the blade, producing at the edge of the same a bevel, the angle of which depends upon the distance between the base portions of the steels and the shortest dis tance between the blade and the axis about which the steels are revolved. Each steel will first engage the blade near its base or far end, the outer end of the steel first engaging the blade, and will remain in engagement therewith until the steel slides oil the opposite end of the blade, the steel gradually moving outwardly with reference to the blade. That is, the point of contact of the steel with the blade gradually approaches the inner end of the steel until the right angle position is reached, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This outward movement of the steel with reference to the blade, as the steel is moved along the edge of the blade, is of importance, as it is a factor in the securing of an extremely sharp and effective cutting edge. As the outer end of the steel first engages the blade and rides up onto the edge portion thereof, the block or holder 241- is rocked about its pivotal pin, and the roller or head 27 of the screw 27 moves out of engagement with the flange 29, so'that said roller and flange no longer control the path of movement of the steel, but

the latter, as long as it is in engagement with the blade, describes or moves in a plane which intersects the plane of the blade of the knife on a line, and thus the steel produces a bevel which is uniform from the point at which the steel first engages the angle, and both being held or pressed against the blade withsubstantialuniform pressure by the spring 31.

While the steel is passing along the edge of the blade, the roller or head 27 of the screw 27 is out of engagement with the flange 29, and in consequence, during such time, the steels are not rotated, but, as soon as the steel passes ofif the knife, the head 27 again engages the flange 29 and rotation of the steels again begins. Consequently, during the actual use of the sharpener, the steels are very slowly intermittently rotated, so that a new point of contact is being'constantly presented to the blade. The steel will therefore wear uniformly, so that uniform cutting or sharpening effect is obtained throughout the period of engagement of the steel on the blade. It will be understood, of course, that when the steels are considerably worn from use and are no longer very effective for sharpening purposes, they can be replaced with new steels.

The adjustment of the clamp relative to the blade 18 permits the adjustment or variation in the bevel or angle of the bevel which is produced on the edge of a blade.

produce a more acute bevel or edge. If, on

the other hand, the clamp is adjusted so that the point of the blade is brought nearer to the axis about which the steels are revolved, the steels will produce a more obtuse bevel or angle at the edge of the blade.

It will be obvious that certain changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a blade sharpener, a holder for a blade, a rotary shaft, a sharpening tool extending outwardly therefrom and adapted to revolve about the axis of the shaft, and to engage one side of the blade in its movement, so as to form a beveled edge thereon, and yieldable means for pressingthe tool against a blade supported in the holder.

2. In a blade sharpener, a holder for a blade, a rotary driving shaft, a sharpening tool extending outwardly therefrom and adapted to revolve about the axis of the shaft and to engage and move along one side of the blade so as to form a beveled edge thereon, said sharpening tool being movably supported by said shaft so that the position of the latter will change with reference to the shaft when the tool engages a blade supported in the holder.

3. In a blade sharpener, a blade holder, a pair of sharpening tools, means for revolving the tools so that they will alternately ing the tools so that they will alternately.

slide along opposite sides of a blade sup- Jorted in theholder, and in planes at angles to the plane of the blade, so as to produce a beveled edge, and means for causing yielding pressure between the tools and blade.

6. In a blade sharpener, a blade holder, a revoluble sharpening tool, means for supporting the tool so that it will engage and. slide along a blade supported in the holder,"

and at the same time move endwise relativeto the blade and means for rotating the said supporting means.

7. a In a blade sharpener, a blade holder, a rotary shaft, a sharpening tool adapted to be revolved by saidshaft so as to slide along the side of the blade with the blade engaging surface of the tool at an angle to the plane of the blade, and a holder for the tool supported by said shaft and movable relative thereto. I

8. In a blade sharpener, ablade holder, a shaft, a tool holder supported by the shaft and pivotally connected thereto, a sharpening tool projecting laterally from the holder, and means for rotating the shaft so as to revolve the tool to cause the same to engage and move along one side of a blade supported inthe blade holder. I

9. In a blade sharpener, a rotary support, a member pivoted thereto, and a pair of sharpening tools supported by said member and projecting laterally therefrom.

10. In a blade sharpener, a blade-holdena so, I

rotary shaft, a pivoted tool supporting mem ber carried by said shaft, and a pair of sharpening tools earned by said member so as to engage and move along opposite sides of ablade supported in the blade holder and.

produce a beveled edge thereon.

11. In a blade sharpener, a blade holder, a I

rotary shaft, a pivoted tool supporting member carried by the shaft, a sharpening tool projecting from said member so as to en gage and move along the side of the blade when revolved by the rotation of the shaft, and means acting on said member to press the tool yieldingly against the blade.

12. In a blade sharpener, a blade holder, a

' rotary shaft, a pair of sharpening tools pivotally supported by said shaft and projecting laterally with respect thereto so that when the shaft is rotated, said tools describe two surfaces which intersect each other.

. T'and for permitting saidtools to move out 10.

r portedii ithe holder.

of said paths when engaging a blade supl lQiIn a blade sharpener, a blade holder,

7 a rotary shaft, "a sharpening tool supported 'bysaid shaft and projecting outwardly therefrom normally at a fixed angle with a respect thereto,- and means. permitting the angleof .the .tool with reference to the shaft .to achange as the tool moves along the side ,of a blade supported in the holder.

;'l5. In a bladesharpener, ablade holder,

, a rotary shaft, a tool holder supported by the shaft, and pivoted thereto at a central point'located in the plane of a blade supportedin the blade holder, a pair of sharpening tools supported by the tool holder and projecting outwardly from opposite sides thereof, and located equal distances from the pivotal axis of the tool holder, said of the-blade andthereon, r

' Copies otthis patent may be obtained. for

tools normally-projecting at angles to the axis of, the shaft such that when the shaft is rotated,'-the tools winn engage opposite sides produce a beveled edge 16. A blade sharpener comprising a blade holder, a rotary shaft, a sharpening tool supportedby the shaft and projecting laterally with respect thereto so that when said shaft "is rotated, thetool is revolved about the axis of, rotation and slides along the side of a 4 0. engaging surface of the tool passing in a blade mounted in the'holder, with the blade plane whichis at an angle to the plane of the'blade.

. 17. In'a blade sharpener, shaft, aisharpening tool supported by the shaft and projecting laterally with respect thereto, means for rotating the shaft. so as to revolve the tool about the axis of the shaft, and means for causing the tool to rotate on its axis as it is revolved.

18. Ablade sharpener comprising a sharp ening tool, a rotary support for the tool from which the tool projects laterally, and means for rotating the tool about its axis when the support is rotated to revolve the tool about a different axis.

19. In a blade sharpener, a rotary sup port, a sharpening tool projecting laterally thcrefrom so as to be revolved by the rotation of the support, and means connected to said tool for rotating the same about its axis when the tool is revolved. I

20. A blade sharpener comprising a ro- -tary support, a member pivoted thereto,

a sharpening tool carried by said member and projecting laterally with respect to the support, so that the tool is revolved by rotating the support, and means for rotating the tool about its axis when said tool is re volved.

21. A blade sharpener comprising a rotary shaft, a pivoted tool holder carried by said shaft, a tool carried by said holder and projecting laterally with respect to the shaft so as to be revolved when the shaft is rotated, and means for rotating the tool about its axis when the tool is revolved, comprising two cooperating frictional driving members including arotating part operatively con nected to the tool.

22. In a blade sharpener, a holder for a blade, a rotaryshaft, a sharpening tool extending outwardly therefrom and adapted to revolve about the axis of the shaft and to engage the blade so as to form a beveled edge thereon, and means for causing yielding pressure between the tool and the blade. In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT E. KILIBALL.

Witnesses E. B. GILOHRIST L. I. PORTER.

five centseach by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0'. 

